GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands--The Cayman Islands is reporting an outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease at one school, following similar reports at several schools across Jamaica.
A total of 19 students were diagnosed at one primary school – the West End Primary School in Cayman Brac.
The Public Health Department was called in to assist and it recommended that the entire school compound be sanitised.
As a result, classes have been suspended until next week.
Earlier this week, several cases were reported at schools in neighbouring Jamaica.
Up to Wednesday, the number of schools affected by the outbreak had risen to 53.
The country’s Health Minister Dr. Fenton Ferguson said cases have been reported in the parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Thomas, St. Catherine, Portland and St. Ann.
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral illness common in infants and children. Symptoms include fevers and blister-like eruptions on the tongue, inside the cheek, poor appetite and sore throat.
There is no vaccine to protect against the viruses that cause the disease. ~ Caribbean360 ~
